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The Political Divide

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    Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) joins Alan to discuss the presidential race and the lack of compromise in Washington.

  • Duration 17:34
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-- South Carolina senator Jim -- through the book now or never saving America and economic collapse.

You are human just named I think in the last year -- -- by National Journal the most conservative senator some -- -- -- enemies sir thank you for coming on the program.

Well I'll what if you were talking to me I'm not sure that political labels very helpful anymore everyone describes -- differently.

And then now or never -- just try to make the case of what the real.

Battle is right now drew -- a world -- as a means some folks think that.

Federal government should control more so more things and -- Perhaps frankly think America became great -- -- we started -- decentralized.

Country when people making their own decisions about things and as much as we can.

Within law and order a reasonable regulations that mean we need to try to restore that.

Well you know we can argue about what role the central government to -- essentially the court at the argument between conservatives and liberals and even conservatives libertarians.

And you've said that you're not opposed of that debate between conservatives and libertarians.

Where's that debate -- -- seems like a safety place now.

In the Republican Party with -- Ron Paul doing better than many people expected.

Well it needs to take place I mean.

And then you probably won't appreciate it grainy picture that's why it's so what we've got about pets for the country now -- he would -- and on the government.

-- wants more from the government.

And that they benefit from central power.

The other answers essentially paying for it and they -- -- -- about.

Freedom opportunity.

And and frankly I think we're fighting for a lot of folks who won't vote for Russia but trust I don't think trapping people in it and dependency is a healthy thing.

But the Republicans if we don't listen to.

Ron Paul and people like Kim who.

Believe that we need to -- -- I think constitutional -- government that we need to have more control over the Federal Reserve.

Individual liberty I think -- -- makes a lot of sense that the Republicans can embrace those ideas will never be the majority party.

Is -- -- Q&A this last time you use supported -- Mitt Romney -- -- in 2008.

You learning knowledge is Republican -- in the South Carolina primary why would you then not support in this time.

Well I I'm -- I'm not you're gonna get involved in the presidential race I think.

All of our candidates -- good.

And frankly Allan they've been the best help but I can -- is an extra Republican president -- to help.

Collects some strong conservative senators.

That's what did the last cycle I hope we can do that this time.

And I think the ones that it just came into the senator make it a bit.

We did did it last time one at this time I have four years ago they didn't have that position and UN.

He supported -- wrong.

Well I think -- gluttony is it is -- -- candidates -- is Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich -- where it carried these are good candidates.

I just -- though.

I mean they're good and then bad aspects so all all of these candidates.

And this salary -- -- -- and endorse wanna I wanna keep -- focus on the senate.

Where do you think Romney's most vulnerable.

You know.

It's it's -- itself depends on who you talk to me it's good candidate will organize and raise a lot of money someone is -- -- people criticizing of that.

But.

You know all the candidates have vulnerabilities and strengths.

Who can I wish we could put them all together and create one package but we -- But the but frankly again though you disagree with me here I think album in any -- would have pretty.

Better perspective.

-- the -- person.

You go after the president in your book on Obama care.

Which most people who don't like this act called obamacare -- Affordable Care Act.

But when you endorsed Romney in 2008.

You -- Romney care has one of the reasons you wanted him to be the elected the area of the next president.

Well I appreciate it -- any governor who was trying to tackle health care -- the state level it's it's more governors should done that we would not and ended up.

Would think national health care system that I don't like the way.

That they did Massachusetts plan ended up a ball like the mandate.

But I appreciate it stay in that any governor who was trying to solve problems and the state level.

So that we -- boring.

All all of that to Washington try to -- it -- a 50% of Americans already owns some kind of federal government helped plan.

And we're -- -- to these plans have not been set up so that there are sustainable.

But so -- appreciated the -- -- anyone who was willing to take channel on.

I don't like the outcome of it -- So we certainly wouldn't want that model that the travel level.

What's the end of the -- your book is so much about federalism verses state -- In yet you know the individual mandate widgets and much debated was truly a Republican -- think -- -- Newt Gingrich had at a one point.

Bob Dole had a plan Richard Nixon going -- To Nixon had a an idea to provide federal health given a mandate did not necessarily come at a progressives.

That little if you if you look at the -- give him and what I've been building I mean that Republicans have been part of the problem.

-- bush increased our -- lots under.

Republican majority.

We expanded the earmarks and -- -- didn't -- -- -- partisan problem.

And one of the reasons we have of shifting trillion dollar debt is there's been a whole lot of cooperation between the Extenders in both parties.

So -- -- I am not necessarily a fan of either party this frankly see right now.

The Democrats are pretty much trapped in the spend more money -- Situation in the post and they -- and their whole platform is based on promised him more from government.

Republicans are divided -- mean there are libertarians they're still they -- spenders in the Republican Party.

What I'm trying to do it now -- never.

Is to say hey -- Americans -- more from government the other financial transaction is brilliant for the government.

Need to be united.

And work to return to those original principles that make this country shall -- -- you know why would we trust given what you just said and and the record of George W.

Bush who did the -- plan another.

Republicans.

Who were big spenders achieving knowledge while we trust them to do the right thing the next time -- announces.

Well I don't think he should trust Washington at all one of the main points I'd make it now or never isn't related to Washington.

Regardless -- what parties in charge they're gonna bankrupt our country.

It's all Americans get engaged.

And with this and get him get involved in one of the things that the people missed about the -- party and I went to a lot of them.

These were not part of some sort of like either party they were libertarians.

-- mean that they were liberals so mean bit.

New to many -- that I'm not that wire mean instead some -- just realize that you can't expand them more than you bring an -- they didn't agree with Republicans on social issues and other things but it was a mix of people.

Could reduce its comments that says he can't keep spending more than you're bringing in and the government has become -- intrinsic.

They're not people who say we should help -- we shouldn't keep souls can do it or not radical something you -- -- a few crazies.

Something about.

For the most part they would be some people who working and that is the man we can't keep spending more than we're bringing him.

And that they were united around this idea and so one thing that can unite our country -- out all the political labels.

It's let's spell out a budget we can debate tax increases -- -- -- play.

Cutting spending and how we do.

But if we don't -- anymore or -- it and we're not gonna have a country.

Yeah but we -- -- and argue well when you have a title like now or never and you said I think you sit -- on FOX & Friends this morning sir last.

Chance to save the country it's rather apocalyptic is it not.

To speak in these kind of terms if somehow if we elect re elect Barack Obama.

A country somehow finish.

Well Barack Obama has shown that all of his policies are bringing power and money to Washington.

And they mean everything -- centralization.

Of control and did that -- more I know it from business every thing we learned about.

Quality and -- quality improvement was pushed decision making down decentralized.

Think.

It's not that we don't want reasonable regulations it's not that we don't want.

Protected or the senior citizens.

It's just that it doesn't work -- we can't afford it anymore they're good solutions that don't throw people out in the cold.

But the Barack Obama believes in centralization of power and do the same they're summoned both parties -- do.

I just believe we if we reason I like what what what made America shall exceptional.

-- realized.

But those principles that are involved he's very divided and decentralized.

Political and economic structure.

And we need to take some of the things we've learned about what regulations were and what -- -- -- and again how much I am.

Did the federal government doesn't have a role.

I'm just saying that a whole lot of what we've tried to do.

Is not working.

And it's creating huge amounts of bit.

Well and we've -- -- debate again and it's with a really divide is between him -- truly.

The government federal vs state should have you that a chapter new book no compromise with Democrats.

Had a week ever managed to solve a problem if you one of the most powerful senators says we can't even compromise.

With the other part.

Well.

There recently came as the -- always compromised -- -- have been there now for -- -- 1212.

Years thirteen years.

All the compromise ends up but more standing in more government and the senators and the reason you have fifteen trillion dollars in debt.

Is not the -- we have gridlock.

It's because there's compromised there per year.

-- the folks in both parties want to spend more money and take home the bacon.

And so that the Democratic Party is no longer in a position where they can work with us on balancing the budget they get sent by -- in the house.

On whether or not we could pass a constitutional amendment to -- also budget send it to the states to ratify.

This was not the constitutional memo and I wanted -- and a restriction on standing in the super majority for tax increases.

It was just playing -- -- -- talks about it in the Democrats all except for the very few who voted against it.

If we can't agree to such statement more than we're bringing me and what that shows you is -- Democrat party is now totally based.

On promises of more government.

We can't work with folks like that Barca coach -- an extreme to go out and cooperate with the other thing.

Cooperate that you have to work a Democrat you don't have a choice you've got to work with the other party.

I would like this straight a student -- the only choice we.

Is to beat them.

And I know you want -- and you don't.

My -- and yeah.

Only compromise that would -- if you look at the last year when the so called Tea Party was supposed to.

The control and watch them every compromised.

Increased expanding.

We saw that reduce the deficit at all it was due to -- -- -- -- in the rate increases spending -- -- -- anymore.

This year that we did last year after all of that.

Nonsense last year and the president asked for another tray and help them today.

I am more debt we thank you don't have an event and them.

-- I appreciate you would just like I was on Jon Stewart last night and formed people who disagree with me which we need to have those debates.

But somebody has got to say that the -- has to start with we can't keep spending more.

Warning -- -- -- and it's there it's a fact of life you've got to deal with Democrats I'm sure.

You've you've got some friends who are Democrats in the senate may be behind closed doors you -- nice to each other throughout the.

Rendered this a personal means that it actually differently here than some of the Republicans took -- -- mean Republican stalling me.

But you gotta deal of these people's -- if we move forward if you say you can't as -- chapter says compromise that Democrats.

You've you've got some cubs with -- year old party occasionally -- many of the Republicans were also big spenders so how do we get from here to there given the political realities of who's in power.

Everybody -- well -- -- about license what was the Republicans.

Disagree would -- the Democrats disagree with you if you are considered you might be wrong.

And I am but the good that there are some what we hope we ended.

It is -- that chapter will change -- that the Democrat party will change I mean some of the blue dog Democrats in the house.

That I work -- that's.

They understand exactly what I'm talking about some album broke with the party and voted for balanced budget amendment some mobile voted for -- cap and balance.

That means there are people within Democrat party all around the -- you know we have to balance our budget but in Washington particularly in the sense.

You could not get elected as a -- Democrat in the senate in question are sold out the injured so that's trial lawyers and who were again.

I don't get the Republicans to pass they've got a lot.

I know -- -- -- about the way we like to -- the Democratic Party you got little of the Democrat party which is funny -- to make him well let me remind you know the last president.

Who had a balanced budget.

With Bill Clinton who had a surplus he was a democratic president.

Until I was there but that was not totally to his liking he resisted it and -- the Republican.

Doctor drew that -- but.

It it all came apart after that once we balanced the budget we started Borland upped the budget with earmarks and everything and in a lot of blame -- Republicans to the problem is.

There's no matter who's in charge in -- -- -- a constitutional amendments to keep us from spending more than we're bringing hand.

The bankrupt our country and we're gonna do it sooner than most people -- And a bit so I'm trying -- it's now or never is to sound the alarm.

It will start the debate about frankly think that's -- that with a lot of crap.

Lot of folks who say -- -- liberal.

-- more common girl around in the week -- the area.

-- -- -- -- -- -- You know it's -- -- again let's see do you -- let's figure out how over the next ten years we can balance the budget.

Not hurt so support not hurt seniors figure out how to do.

Well your book really advance of the debate -- -- you know what asking the one thing is that.

When you appeared on a Christian radio show host -- -- in an effort you said.

It's been the most in the Obama administration of those anti business.

And I consider and I'm quoting you saying I consider anti American administration in my lifetime is that how you view.

The Obama administration.

Is an -- A couple of and the book now our network -- -- -- and I say that it was painful to say it it's painful to think that actually.

But I'm not saying this because I think the President Obama wants to hurt our country.

She's just part of a large group and our country that believes that the best way to make our country work is just centrally manage it.

And that's not what makes America work and it's what -- make it let's make you're not work and obviously if we just need to put back on the table well or those ideas that really made America great and not that it was -- process.

That we need to understand that centralization of power collapsed.

Because that's our economy -- Politics.

And we've got.

Now the great about it Washington this is not Republican or Democrat it's those who want to control central wash them and those who feel like that we.

And that is that a fair debate as you pointed out but then it is it really okay do you think it's appropriate -- anti American because you don't agree.

-- their point of view on that.

Well it's it's against the principles.

That make this country great and I should explain it better because I don't believe any of the Democrats are trying to hurt country.

And I don't think they're trying they think -- -- trying to hurt but.

We do need to have an honest assessment of why America was -- -- from every other country in the world.

And see if we can take some of those principles and use it to restore -- Sir I appreciate your time -- the political now or never saving America from economic collapse senator Jim dement.

Appreciate the opportunity to talk to you sir thank you -- --

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